Raise the Flag Early
Ah, it’s June. This is the life in Minnesota. Summer’s finally in full swing, with its moderate temps and long days. We’re out and about, getting fresh air, and meeting new people in the process.
For our family this summer, it’s new neighbors. And year after year, it’s new teammates and parents and siblings on our kids’ baseball and softball teams. Maybe for you it’s new co-workers or new names and faces through friends and family, or a new team or favorite hobby. Come fall, there will be a new wave of classmates and activities.
Especially in a metro like ours, we’re constantly meeting new people, saying our names and telling them what we do and where we live — the basic stuff. We have the chance — the expectation — to introduce ourselves to new people all the time.
And in terms of the basics, the most important details, that information about yourself that is most valuable, most insightful, most revealing — most important to know and lead with and disclose and tell, it’s this: we are Christians.
Surprise, I’m a Christian
I know the temptation. Perhaps you’ve thought along these lines as well: I’ll identify with Jesus later. I’ll get to know these new people, really impress them, they’ll wonder how I do it, and then someday comes the big reveal: Surprise, I’m a Christian!
Okay, when you say it out loud, it’s clear that this isn’t a good strategy. Has this worked for us before? Could it really be cowardice disguised as a strategy?
Let’s take a different approach. It’s not really a strategy as much as it is being real and honest — to the new person you’re meeting, as well as about yourself, and about Jesus. There is great freedom in honesty.
Say His Name and Ours
What I aim for now is identifying with Jesus right away in new relationships. Being a Christian, worshiping Jesus, devoting my life to his word — this is not the tenth or third most important thing about me. It’s first. That doesn’t mean I need to lack emotional intelligence. There are countless ways, within the normal conversational conventions of 2024, to identify with Jesus in a first conversation:
Perhaps it’s our church: “. . . and we’re members of a church on Summit Ave in Saint Paul, called Cities Church.”
Maybe it's fellow Christians: “. . . Oh, Little Canada. We know a family from church that lives there . . .”
It could be some vocational connection: “. . . Construction? I have a good friend from our group at church who . . .”
Even your school or some other group.
Think of your angle — your angles.
Now, I recognize, as a pastor, it may seem easier for me. I can’t run from this for very long! But for me, I could emphasize being an editor or a writer or baseball coach, but I’ve learned over the years I’d much rather communicate right away what’s most important to me. Identify with Jesus and the church and Christianity up front. If that takes them off guard, then fine. Nobody’s run away yet. After all, if you can defend the faith “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15), you can sure introduce your connection to Jesus with some Christian social grace. I am confident in the abilities of Cities Church people to do this.
Tear Down the Wall Later
If your identifying with Jesus does build up an invisible wall in their mind, now here’s the strategy: spend the next season of the relationship tearing down that wall by overturning their expectations. First of all, they probably aren’t as down on all Christians as you might fear. Secondly, even if they are, then it’s likely because they have a distorted perspective, whether it’s their algorithms or even a real-life sob story.
Either way, know this, that your pastors are confident that if you identify with Jesus up front, and then seek to show them over time the sober-mindedness and attentiveness and joy of Jesus Christ, you may soon pop even the biggest bubbles of unfair negativity. Aim to be both unapologetic and happy — happy to be a Christian, and happy to tell you I’m a Christian, and happy to invite you to admire, and trust, Jesus like I do.
Brothers and sisters, let’s not wait to say what and who is most important. Let’s identify as Christians and say the name of Jesus. We want him to be impossible to ignore in these Twin Cities. Let’s raise his flag right away with the many new names and faces we encounter this Summer.
